Roadtrip Nation and UMUC Kick Off Cross Country Cybersecurity Adventure

UMUC teams up with Roadtrip Nation to shine a light on this century’s most exciting and challenging career field – cybersecurity.

Jobs in the cybersecurity sector have increased by 73 percent over the past five years, making it one of the hottest career fields for America’s students and young adults. Recent headlines about cyber warfare, cyber crime, and cyber espionage demonstrate the need for qualified professionals with the skills to succeed in cybersecurity—a field that is growing 12 times faster than the average American industry.

That’s why career exploration organization Roadtrip Nation and University of Maryland University College (UMUC) are teaming up to send three people interested in cybersecurity on a three-week road trip across the nation. The journey—termed the “Cybersecurity Roadtrip”—will be filmed and produced into a one-hour documentary, set to air on public television in 2017.

The Cybersecurity Roadtrip launched officially on November 27, 2016, in New York City. Next up is a celebratory kickoff event at UMUC and the National Cryptologic Museum in Maryland on December 2. Winding their way across the country with highlighted stops in New Orleans, Austin, and Los Angeles, the road-trippers will book and conduct a slate of in-depth interviews with leaders from different specializations within the cybersecurity field.

Candidates selected for the opportunity have unique backgrounds and challenges, but all possess a passion for cybersecurity. Mansi Thakar is pursuing a master’s degree in cybersecurity, Emily Cox recently discovered a love for the field after attending an immersive coding boot camp, and Antwan King is enrolled in a master’s program in digital forensics and cyber investigation. On the journey, they expect to find new mentors and explore the diversity of career paths available within the field.

You can learn more about Roadtrip Nation, known for its New York Times best-selling career guide, award-winning documentary television series, and acclaimed classroom curriculum at roadtripnation.com and roadtripnation.org. To stay up to date on the journey, follow @RoadtripNation, @UMUC, and #CybersecurityRoadtrip on Twitter.